But, according to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), the detainees were immediately dumped in a military detention facility at Apapa in Lagos. However, in order to legalise the arrest and detention of the detainees, the naval authorities obtained a remand warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting at Apapa.

He added that, as the detainees who were incarcerated for over three months were not charged with any criminal offence the magistrate court reviewed their case on January 7, 2019 and ordered the naval authorities to release them from illegal custody forthwith.

In what was described as contempt of the valid order of the court, the navy transferred the detainees to another military detention facility in Abuja. Following the application by Lt. Commander Labinjo filed for the enforcement of her fundamental right to personal liberty the Federal High Court directed the navy to release her from illegal custody.

The valid order of the Federal High Court has equally been ignored by the navy without any legal justification. Even though the civilians among the detainees are not subject to service law, the navy has continued to detain them in military detention facilities, Falana added.